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Sunday, 23 June 2013

Latest Products // MAC & Bobbi Brown - Designer Outlet Mini Haul

On Saturday I went to my first ever Designer Outlet, Cheshire Oaks. I was super excited to check out what was on offer, albeit a little dubious as to how nice the actual stuff on sale would be.One of our first stops of the day was The Cosmetics Company store, I was so excited because as soon as I walked in I was greeted by stands of Estee Lauder, MAC, Bobbi Brown and Smashbox, along with others.

Whilst there I picked up some little treats from MAC and Bobbi Brown, two brands that I adore! I wish I had picked up more, looking back, but hey ho - my bank isn't complaining :)

Bobbi Brown - Blush Pink Rose

One of my first purchases was this beautiful pink Blusher from Bobbi Brown. I actually have never owned a Bobbi Brown Blusher before but I love her other products so hopes were set rather high on this one.

It is a beautiful blue toned Pink that adds the prettiest flush to the cheeks. I especially like this blusher as it works well on both pale and tanned skin ( my mum also brought this and she is much fairer than myself ).

It is a matte texture which, although I love, some people may think is a little dull. I personally enjoy adding my own shimmer with a pretty highlighter.

The RRP of this product is £18.00 and for this you get 3.8g of product. Although I do love this product, at full price it is nearly double the price ( per gram ) of a MAC Blusher which retails at £17.50 for 6g. Personally, I would rather pay for a MAC one over this full price, sorry Bobbi! I love the packaging, the colour and the texture, but not enough to repurchase more shades at full price.

I paid £10.00.

Bobbi Brown - Eyeshadow Champagne No 42

Also at the stands of Ms Brown, I picked up this beautiful Shimmer Wash in Champagne. I have accumilated a fair few Bobbi Brown eyeshadows, so I know that I do indeed love these.

They are creamy, pigmented, long lasting and come in so many shades!

Am I the only one searching for the perfect Champagne shade?!

I have so many shades similar, yet different, to this. It is a golden champagne with ivory and very subtle pink under tones. I think this will work really well as a highlight colour and also as a simple wash of colour over the lid.

For the RRP of £16.50 you get 2.5g of beautifully packaged, amazing quality product. I would really recommend these to people who are looking to invest in staple colours for their collection such as a good Black, Bronze & Champagne etc.

I paid £10.50 for this eye shadow and would have killed for a better colour selection but hey, one bargain is better than nothing!

MAC Lipglass - Tour de Fabulous

I have had a love/ hate relationship with MAC Lipglasses. I love the colour selection and the actual look of the products on the lips, but so often I find myself having to remove them when i step out the house as they are so damn sticky!

Despite this, I totally fell in love with this gorgeous Peachy Coral shade. I believe it was limted edition, as was much of the MAC stuff in the Outlet store :( sorry ( you can find it on Ebay (: yay )

I wore this out all day today and although it is sticky * cries * , it just last so beautifully. Dilema?!

I paid £9.00 for this Lipglass & they RRP is from £13.50 to £17.00. I dont think the RRP for these is actually too bad considering how long they last and the colour pay off you can get & I actually wish I had brought another of these, although they will have to be saved for a 'hair up' day!

MAC - Zoom Lash Plum Reserve

I'm not sure why, but I have just never been drawn towards buying a MAC Mascara before. Something about them just does not tickle that pickle of mine! That was until I saw this Zoom Lash in Plum.

I have got Green eyes, and recently I have become mildly obsessed with wearing Purple to accentuate them. The colour on the applicator of this is a beautiful vibrant purple, however it doesn't transfer as boldy onto the lashes as I had hoped.

The other niggle I have with this is the fact that it really does not do anything for my lashes. It lengthens them to an extent but add almost Zero volume :(

Having spent £10.00 on this, I am a little peeved as you can get a great Drugstore/ Highstreet mascara for that price.

Overall

Overall I am really pleased with my bargain buys! I love a good bargain and all of these, bar maybe the mascara, will be much loved!

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Soap & Glory//Latest Product & Review

This may suprise many of the Beauty Mavens out threre, but I have never really fan-girled over Soap & Glory before. The hype of the brand just seemed to slip past me and I had never really given it much thought, despite hearing raves about it left, right & centre.

However, in Boots the other day I could not resist sticking my snout into the Sugar Crush Moisture Extreme Body Butter Cream after here the gorgeous Tanya Burr rave about the smell of it in her May Favourites video.

Oh My God. Girls, I cannot express to you how amazing this smells. It is a very sweet and creamy Lime scent - it realy reminds me of a Key Lime Pie! This is perfect for me as I love sweet scents and Key Lime Pie haha.

From the range I purchased the Body Buttercream and the Body Wash, both of which I adore. They really are a pleasure to have in my beauty routine.

I must admit I have never been loyal to a body moisturiser or body butter. The longest love affair to date has been with the Body shop Body Butters which I love. A lot. However the beautiful rich texture of this may just rival that of the Body Shop's.

The texture is smooth, thick and luxurious but yet sinks into the skin beautifully. I really enjoy using this in the morning, especially around my décolletage. This is because it adds just a healthy dewy glow to the skin which I think looks beautiful in that area.

I'm sure with Summer coming up (somewhere) and shorts heading our day (one day) , I am not the only one to be reaching for the fake tan?
I find this works so well with fake tan as it is so rich and nourishing it created the perfect canvas for you to apply your tan to.

Whilst obsessing over the Body Buttercream, I also picked up the shower gel from the same range. This may be a bit odd, but I am so particular about body washes. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than a shower gel that:

a) Doesn't foam up - This definitely does foam up in to a luxurious lather

b) Has a scent that doesn't linger - The scent of this, especially when used in conjunction with the Body Cream, which will linger (not too strongly) all day.

c) Has crummy packaging you hate to see in your bathroom - Well, what can I say, you can see how pretty this is!

Another thing I really like about this Body Wash is the pump.

It helps you to get the right amount of product to use - no one liked squirty shower gels that dispense half the bottle if you squeeze it too hard, am I right ? It also stops it leaking onto your shower shelf/surface and creating a lovely congealed mess on shower gel for you to clean :)

Overall :

Overall.. GO & BUY THESE!

If you love a sweet smell and enjoy products which are amazing value for money then you should definitly try these. Very excited to try more Soap & Glory products.

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Latest Product//Review - Sinful Colors Nail Polish

Okay so pay day is only a few days away, so naturally I am skint. However, on Bank Holiday Monday, I braced Sheffield city centre ready to find some bargains.

Those who know me will know this is no mean feet. I am notoriously impulsive when shopping - how I ended up an accountant I will never know. Despite this though, I did well, picking up a good set of bargains - Thank the Lord for TK Maxx!Among my purchases were three nail polishes from a new collection, Sinful Colors released in Boots.

My favourite of the three being Shade 003 - Easy Going. A pretty Ballerina pink.I had seen a few other bloggers review these & was really excited to try them out :)

Okay, so first impressions. I really liked the brush, it is small enough to be precise and large enough to cover a descent area in one stroke. As I am not the neatest nail-painter, I find a good brush really helps.

I also found it gave really neat, straight lines and did not smudge the

polish into my cuticle at all - Big thumbs up!

One Coat - Streaky & Semi Opaque

Two Coats - Opaque and Shiny

I have really mixed feelings about this products so, to avoid any more rambling, I am going to do a 'Pros & Cons':

PROS

1) The price. At £1.99 it is seriously cheap & you do get a lot of polish and a good brush for your £££.

2) The finish. The final result is pretty and professional, you are left with an opaque, streak free, super shiny polish.

CONS

1) The drying time! Oh god, this took so long to dry. Like a whole episode of Scott & Bailey long time ( an hour!).

2) Definitely one that needs a topcoat . However I always use a top coat so I didn't mind this, but this would probably be a 'night out' fix if you choose not to apply one.

Overall

Overall, I did really enjoy wearing this and I do think that it good value for money and the colour and texture selection in the range is just super amazing. However the drying time did really put me off.

I will be using this again & trying out the other colours but maybe after investing in a good rapid dry top coat - but maybe that defeats the object of them being cheap if you have to buy a good top coat too?

4) Let the person who tagged you know that you did the tag by linking up in the comments!

Greed- what is your most expensive beauty item?

Umm, I'm not too sure really. I would say my latest splurge of a Michael Todd Discovery Kit was quite pricey at £36. But in general I don't have any super outrageously expensive pieces.

Wrath- which item do you have a love/hate relationship with?

Illamasqua Skin base foundation. some days I love love love this and others I find it Oxidises on my skin and can also end up looking too oily. I have repurchases this twice now, so I must love it.. But I definitely have a love hate relationship with it.

Gluttony- what brand makes up most of your make-up collection?

Hmm.. tricky. I would have to say my beloved Revlon has started to take up a lot of room in my make up collection over the last year. Also, I didn't realised until I did this question, but I also own a lot of Benefit.. Who knew.?!

Sloth- which product do you neglect the most due to laziness?

Haha I thought about this long and hard and came to the conclusion that I don't actually get lazy on anything. I really enjoy applying my make up and, in general, always wear the whole sha-bang. I hasten to add, I don't wear loads everyday, but I do always have a full face.

Pride- which product gives you the most confidence?

LIP! Reds. Bright Fuchsias. Berry tones. You name it, I probably wear it. I just love lipsticks and I always feel my outfit in not complete if I haven't got a perfectly pretty lip applied. It doesn't have to be bright, I do love a nude too :)

Lust- which item is at the top of your beauty wish list?

YSL Mascara Volume EffectFaux Cils Babydoll - Shade 04. Ooo this looks so super pretty and amazing. I adore the YSL Shocking, so I know this will be amazing.. plus it is such a beautiful Plum shade - which looks so pretty with Green eyes like mine.

Envy- which make up product/look is great on others but not yourself?

The one look I want to love is definitely the 'barely there' just mascara look. I just can;t do it. I just find my face looks too dull and my eyes don't pop unless I have some shadow or eye-liner applied.

I hope you enjoyed reading my attempt at the Seven Deadly Sins of Make-up!

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Review// Illamasqua - Hydra Veil

Ahh I am so excited to be reviewing this little beauty! I have been using it for about 2 weeks so as I can give a well balanced review as I was rather unsure as to what to expect from this skin 'Veil'

I'll start by explaining what exactly it is.

Well, it is a Primer/Skin perfecter/Moisturiser all rolled into one lovely little product.

It does not claim to have any long term skin benefits, it is to be used before foundation and after or instead of ,depending on your skin type, moisturiser.

The great thing about the Hydra Veil is that it is actually suitable for both dry and oily skin as it is designed to hydrate any dry patches and balance out any oiliness that your skin may have. Magic? Yes, I think it must be cause it truly does work.

Another unique thing about the Hydra Veil is the packaging.

Not only is the outside expensive looking ( more pricey looking than the £27.00 price tag) and chic - the inside is super amazing.

There is an air-tight lid under the outer screw lid with a super cute little spoon attached to the top.

You may be wondering why on earth you would need a spoon?!.. Well. is it because this product's texture is sooo amazing/awesome/weird that you really would struggle to get the tiny amount needed out, with your hands.

Essentially.. it is a jelly.

A clear , pleasant smelling jelly. the great thing about it too is that is stays looking new...

Make it messy...

Within seconds it is back to normal :)

Okay, so about what is actually did to my skin.

I apply this after my normal morning skin care routine and actually instead of a morning moisturiser (as I only ever moisturised my dry patched on my cheek bones anyways).

I use the spoon to apply a small amount which I gently work between my fingers and smooth over my face.

The result.

My foundation glides onto my skin to effortlessly and looks so airbrushed and smooth - it really is amazing.

My foundation and concealer also do not budge! From half 7 in the morning to 6 PM at night when I finish work, I have to powder once to set my base and that it is :)

Amazing.

I really would recommend this lovely product to everyone, it's so good and quickly became a staple in my make up routine :)

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Skin Care Routine// Night Time

I am a creature of habit and find it hard to break out of my old routines when it comes to skin care.
It used to be Simple Face Wipe, Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, whatever Moisturiser was hand & then bed.

However as I have got older I've learnt that in order to keep my skin from being too oil & dry (bad combo) I do need to put a little work in. These products have really helped my skin and made a noticeable difference although I am prone to switching up cleansers - this is the one I am really enjoying at the momento.

Step One - Sanctuary Spa Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser
I was pleasently suprised by this cleasner as at £10.50 it is cheaper than the Liz Earle Cleanser I always revert back to.
It removes make up really well (I remove any heavy duty eye make up separately) and leaves my skin looking refreshed, clean and illuminated.

A little goes a long way with this little Cleanser as it is really thorough, I tend to use it twice, once before my Mask and once after to make sure my skin is extra clean :)
The scent is this products one downfall, in my opinion. I personally don't mind it but it is rather strong. I would recommend smelling it before you buy it to make sure it's for you.
I use this products with the Muslin cloth that comes with it which is okay, but not as good quality as the Liz Earle one. :)
At £10.50, this is a good middle-of the road products. It does the job it says it will and won't empty your bank while it's at it.

PS. if you have dry skin this may not be one for you as it left my Mum's face feeling rather tight a stripped :(

Although I am a big mask lover, I have never been one to routinely apply them. Maybe once a week if I have the time but in general, they rarely crept into my Nightly routine.
That is, until this little gem came into my life :)

Honestly, I only brought this to get rid of one the the thousands of No.7 vouchers I had in my Purse, but since using it.. I am hooked.

It is a 2 Minute mask designed to deep cleanse the face using heat and tiny exfoliating beads.

When you apply this (to damp skin) it feels rather like a dry exfoliator, but once it hits the skin it get, oddly, rather warm. You massage it on like you would an exfoliator and leave it for two minutes to work it's magic.

If you're one for pampering, luxurious mask, this won't be the one for you. But, if you like a little bit of pamper but on the quick then you should definitely try this out :)

Also, sorry about the Oily skin based products - but once again I would steer clear if you suffer from dryness.

This Moisturiser is super super lovely & feels so creamy and luxurious when applied to the skin. It also come in two variations Dry/Sensitive and Normal/Combination. Although I would say I have Normal/Combination skin, I actually use to Dry/Sensitive version of this product and I find it gives my face a nice hit of moisture overnight with out leaving it greasy in the morning. And, with all the cleansing and toning, I think my skin does need a bit of a boost overnight to keep it supple and smooth.

Friday, 3 May 2013

fanstasy friday #1

I have herd so much amazing talk about this little Cleanser & I am dying to try it. However it is not yet available in the UK ( although it is due to launch soon). I'm so tempted to order this off the Internet but I just have to many cleansers to finish off/start using, to justify buying this... at the moment :(

Oh how a Girl can dream. I can just see myself strolling round the South of France this Summer wearing these - However at 180 smackaroonies I doubt that will happen any time soon. Whilst browsing the web today though, I did notice that ASOS have some great Cat Eye Glasses for a fraction of the price :)

I tried this on in John Lewis last week thinking that the bright purple shade would be too vampish/Gaga for me. However it was a lovely bright way of wearing a more night time shade in the Summer. Love love love this - especially for girls with Green eyes like myself, it really makes them pop!

Try as I might, I just can't seem to persuade my dear Father into buying my this super amazing wonderful lovely Cicly bag by Mulberry. I adore the unique Mint Green colour and the girly gold hardware :)

Maybe if I wish hard enough I will magic some money into my little old purse... maybe..